Selenium supplementation to help moderate-severe ulcerative colitis flare-ups
Official title: Selenium Supplementation for Moderate-Severe Ulcerative Colitis Flares
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11412675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether giving selenium can help people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis reduce flares and improve symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $320,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK144103-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, particularly those with ongoing disease activity and selenium deficiency.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without UC or without selenium deficiency may not experience benefit.
What this research studies
People with ulcerative colitis often have selenium deficiency, even when symptoms are mild. This study explores how selenium supplementation might support immune cells in the colon and reduce inflammation during flares. Researchers will examine patient samples and clinical responses to determine if selenium affects pathways related to ferroptosis and inflammation in the gut. The work builds on prior findings that selenium-related proteins in myeloid cells are linked to disease activity and treatment response in UC. The goal is to identify whether a targeted selenium strategy could benefit patients in real-world care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, selenium supplementation could become a simple, accessible way to reduce UC flares and improve quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary human data and small trials suggest potential benefits of selenium-related approaches in UC, but larger confirmatory studies are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dulai, Parambir Singh — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Dulai, Parambir Singh
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.